Water base stain

Water-based stain is a type of stain that uses water as its main thinner. Water-based stain is one of the water-based finishing materials that has become a trend in the finishing industry today. The material uses water as its major solvent. It is considered the environmentally friendly finishing material. The issue of environmental degradation and climate change drives the finishing industry society to use the materials and system that are considered more environmentally friendly. This reason makes the water-based finishing materials become increasingly popular. Water-based stains as part of the water-based finishing material also become popular and are liked by many people.

Actually the water-based finishing materials technology has been known since a long time ago. Started in about 1970, there were many water-based coatings or waterborne materials introduced to the finishing industry, but there were a lot of limitations that restricted the uses of the material. Today, after much development has been carried out. The finishing material has much better performance than when it was first introduced.

The water-based stain is a finishing material used to form a color in a process of finishing. According to the type of finish that is produced, there are 2 types of water-based stain, which are the water-based wood stain and water-based paint.

• Water-based wood stain, water-based stain.

That is a water-based stain used to color the wood to make a transparent color finishing. It is thin and usually applied directly to the wood. It is made from organic pigment as its main ingredient diluted in water and a little amount of solvent. This stain produces a bright and transparent coloration. This stain will also penetrate and be absorbed by the wood as well as other organic pigmented stains. This stain can be applied in various ways, such as by spray, brush, dipped, or wiped. It can also be applied under many types of clear coatings, such as NC, PU, and AC, as well as the water-based coating. The stain is available in various colors except white. We can mix this stain to produce the desired color if necessary. The principle of this stain mixing can be done by using the triangle color theory.

• Water-based pigment stain

It is the water-based stain that made off pigment (inorganic pigment). It has all the pigment stain properties but with water as a thinner. Basically it is available in basic colors, including the black and white colors, but it can be made in any color with the proper mixing. The stain contains pigment as the material to make color, some binder, some solvent, and water as the main thinner. The stain can be applied by spray, dip, or brush, depending on the formulation. As an organic pigment stain, it does not penetrate and get absorbed by the wood as the organic pigment stain does, but it stays on the top of the wood surface. But it will make transparent color for wood as the other wood stain. 

•  Water based paint, water based base coat.

It is a stain that is used to make a solid color (opaque color) finish. This stain is thick form as well as the other base coat, paint or enamel. Water-based paint is made from an inorganic pigment mixed with a water-based clear coating as a binder. This material can be applied over raw wood or sealer to generate a solid color. It is available in a variety of colors, including white. If necessary, it can be mixed to make the required color using the color triangle theory principle.

Tips in using the water based stain.

The water-based stain principally is the same as other stains, but since the stain uses water as its major solvent, it has some unique characteristics. 

• Choose the appropriate color stain according to the desired color.

The stain is applied in the finishing process to form color. Therefore, the stain must be selected based on the basic color of the wood and the final color desired. Use the triangle theory to choose the right stain color.

•  The unfinished wood should be dry.

Water-based stain contains water in its mixture. The application to the wood means that the wood is wet with water. The dry wood will make the drying process occur relatively easily and fast. But if the wood is still wet, then drying stain will be difficult and happen slowly.

• The environmental conditions.

The drying process is the evaporation of water into the air. In a hot and dry environment, the water evaporation process can easily and quickly happen. But in the humid weather, the environment air is full of water vapor and no longer receives water vapor. In humid or rainy weather, the drying process of the water-based stain becomes very slow. To do better control the finishing process with water-based material, an oven should be installed in the finishing room.

•  The sanding in unfinished wood.

Water-based stain will be wetter on the wood compared with thinner base wood stain. The water in the stain will wet and lift the wood fibers to make the wood surface tend to be rough. Generally the water-based stain will lift more wood fiber and need more sanding processes. Water-based stain also has a high risk of blotchy and uneven color if the surface underneath has porosity variation. To minimize the uneven porosity, then the unfinished wood surface should be well prepared. The proper sanding is needed to ensure that the wood surface is even and smooth. Do glue sizing (sealer sizing) if necessary to do better preparation in the unfinished wood.

• Use non-corrosion equipment to handle this material.

Water base is corrosive materials. The water in the mixture will attack the metal, especially the iron. The container to place this material and the equipment used to handle this material should be made of a non-corrosive substance. The plastic bucket and drum are the most used to keep and place this material. Meanwhile, the tip and nozzle for the spray gun used should be made of stainless steel, which has better resistance to corrosion.